dark winter

Dark Winter individuals are dominantly dark with a neutral-cool hue as their subordinate colour quality. It is this icy hue that sets them apart from their Autumn counterparts but their palette, filled with luxurious shades, is no less mysterious and wild.

characteristics

Placed between Dark Autumn and Cool Winter in the seasonal flow theory, this subtype combines depth with an icy hue. They belong to a season influenced by bright chroma so there is a brightness about their features. Those who sit closer to Autumn may find they have some softness to their features whereas those flowing further into Winter will have more coolness.

CONTRAST

Due to the depth of their combined features, Dark Winter individuals have a high to intense contrast level. They have a neutral chroma but many demonstrate some aspects of the season’s brightness in their luminosity, which increases their overall shade variance. This is because feature such as dewy skin, sparkling eyes and glossy hair create additional areas of light and dark across their image.

SKIN TONE

Dark Winter skin ranges from fair to deep and is either neutral or neutral-cool in hue. This means that, although cool metals always look better, they can also wear dark yellow gold and some brass. Their veins can appear blue, green or purple beneath the skin. Complexions may be dewy or sheer and clear with an absence of freckles.

EYES

Due to their dominant depth, common eye colours for Dark Winter include brown and black as well as olive and hazel. Very dark blue is also possible in some cases. The depth of these colours can make it difficult to identify a pattern on the iris but definition on the outer edge is common and you may be able to see pinwheel spokes on the inner section.

HAIR

We see medium brunette through to intense black hair colourings with ash or blueish undertones in Dark Winter. These individuals typically do not develop highlights when exposed to the sun. They also tend to have glossy shines meaning one long strip reflects the light rather than the glistening flecks we see in the hair of soft seasons.

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colour palette

The Dark Winter palette is reminiscent of a walk through a forest in December. The air is crisp and invigorating, filled with the faint scent of pine and earth. The trees stand tall, their branches heavy with glistening white snow, forming a delicate canopy above. The sky is a pale grey, casting a soft, diffused light over the scene. Frost clings to the edges of twigs, sparkling like diamonds. A nearby brook, partially frozen, gurgles softly, its water rushing beneath the ice.

metals

Cool metals such as titanium, marcasite, white gold, platinum, silver and pewter work well for Dark Winter.

They are a neutral subtype so can also make use of warm metals if they pair them with cool colours in their overall outfit. This cools the metal and prevents the overall look reflecting yellow on their skin.

However, warm metals are limited to deep yellow gold and brass. Other warm metals such as bronze, rose gold and copper are too brown, too light or too warm.

As a dominantly deep subtype, tarnished, oxidised, antique or textured finishes work better than shiny or matte variations.

neutrals

Dark Winter's palette has a wide range of neutrals that can enhance the natural contrast of this subtype, especially for those with fair skin, dark hair, and dark eyes.

Since this season is defined by cool, deep, and intense colours, neutrals like pure black and clean white work especially well, though they can sometimes be too stark or underwhelming on those with medium to dark skin tones.

For a more balanced look on deeper skin tones, Dark Winter individuals can turn to softer, rich neutrals that still maintain cool undertones, such as charcoal grey, Prussian blue and aubergine purple.

accents

We see considerably more blues, greens and purples in the accent portion of the Dark Winter sample palette. This is because the subtype has a neutral-cool hue.

However, there are some yellows and oranges such as 'Acacia - 13-0640 TCX', 'Popcorn - 12-0825 TCX' and 'Baked Apple - 18-1648 TCX'. Note that these warm hues have a touch of blue to cool them. They should still be paired with cool accents to neutralise the temperature of an outfit as, together, they may reflect onto the skin and look sickly.

combinations

Dark Winter has a naturally high contrast, so combinations of light and dark colors reflect its intensity well. The first two examples show dark neutrals paired with bright accents to create this effect. You see Ivy before you see the colours, which indicates balance.

You can also use light neutrals with dark accents for the same result as shown in the second two examples.

Alternatively, the final two examples show monochromatic mixes. This can be created by choosing similarly dark accents from the same colour column on the Dark Winter sample palette, colour chart or your 'Personalised Palette'.

colours to borrow

Depending on their individual colour qualities, Dark Winter individuals may be able to borrow colours from their neighbouring palettes.

Where those who lean towards Dark Autumn can opt for the cooler colours on that palette (greens, blues and purples), individuals flowing further into their own season may be able to make use of the darker colours shown in the first two rows of the Cool Winter sample palette.

Please note, the colour codes given in the above examples marked with an asterisk correspond to those palettes. Please refer to the Dark Autumn or Cool Winter pages to see the full sample palettes.

colours to avoid

Since the key characteristics of Dark Winter’s palette are depth and coolness, the least flattering colours for you are light and warm. The colours above are taken from the Light Spring palette. Note how the warm pastels do not balance Ivy's image.

In addition to this, earthy tones, like golden oranges and browns, can make your complexion appear less vibrant. Furthermore, muted and desaturated shades, like dusty yellows, may dull your naturally vivid appearance.

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